Nashville Shores: Everything a Nashville Local Knows About This Waterpark (2026 Guide)

Nashville Shores is Nashville’s only full-scale waterpark and lakeside resort, located at 4001 Bell Rd, Hermitage, Tennessee — about 15 miles east of downtown Music City directly on the shores of Percy Priest Lake. The property combines waterslides, a wave pool, a lazy river, a floating Aqua Park, a Treetop Adventure Park, lakefront camping, cabin rentals, and a natural sand beach under one admission.

I’ve been coming to Nashville Shores since I moved to Nashville, and I’ve brought family, friends, and out-of-town visitors more times than I can count. This guide covers every detail — rides, tickets, camping, hours, and the honest stuff nobody puts in the brochure.

What Is Nashville Shores?

Nashville Shores is a seasonal waterpark and lakeside resort owned by Premier Parks, LLC and situated on Percy Priest Lake in Hermitage, Davidson County, Tennessee. The property sits roughly 1.5 miles south of Interstate 40 and occupies a stretch of former lakefront land originally developed as Hermitage Landing.

Nashville Shores operates in 2 distinct sections:

• Nashville Shores Waterpark — waterslides, Breaker Bay Wave Pool, Castaway Creek Lazy River, splash zones, Kowabunga Beach, and the Percy Priest Lake Aqua Park
• Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort — RV sites, cabin rentals, tent camping, lake access with Banana Boats, paddleboarding, and a natural beach area

The waterpark section runs seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The lakeside resort operates on a longer calendar. Nashville Shores draws families from across Tennessee and surrounding states every summer, and the Percy Priest Lake setting gives the property a natural-water feel that indoor and concrete-only waterparks don’t replicate.

A Quick History of Nashville Shores

Nashville Shores opened in 1997 after Larry Edgmon and a group of investors purchased the former Hermitage Landing property on Percy Priest Lake. The land sits on a section originally managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Percy Priest Dam recreation zone.

The park changed hands multiple times in its early years. Nashville Shores Holdings managed the property before Kieran Burke — former CEO of Six Flags — became involved in the ownership group. Gary Story, C.E. Hooper, and Robert Baltz all played roles in the park’s development and expansion phases through the 2000s.

The 2010 Tennessee floods caused significant damage to the property. Nashville Shores rebuilt and reopened, adding new attractions over the next decade. Mike Williams led operations through parts of this rebuilding period. Major additions since the flood include the Aqua Park (added in 2018) and Mega Mayhem (added in 2020) — a hybrid waterslide that became the park’s signature thrill ride.

Nashville Shores also briefly hosted the One For the Sun rock festival, which brought live music to the lakefront grounds. The park was previously compared to Wildwater Kingdom and the former Opryland Themepark as a regional family attraction in the Nashville market.

Nashville Shores Waterpark — Every Ride and Attraction

Nashville Shores Waterpark has 9 primary water attractions spread across thrill slides, family rides, kids’ zones, and open-water experiences:

Thrill Slides

Mega Mayhem — A hybrid waterslide added in 2020 that combines enclosed tube sections with open-air drops. Mega Mayhem is the newest and most intense ride at Nashville Shores. Riders sit in multi-person rafts and hit multiple direction changes before the final splash. This is the ride teenagers head straight for.

Music City Racer — A head-first racing waterslide with 4 parallel lanes. Music City Racer lets riders race side-by-side on individual mats, and the competitive element makes it one of the most re-ridden slides in the park. I’ve watched families spend 45 minutes cycling through the line just to settle arguments about who’s fastest.

Big Kahuna — A large raft ride that sends 2–4 riders through a funnel-shaped bowl before dropping into a splash pool. Big Kahuna is the best group ride at Nashville Shores for families with mixed ages — old enough to hold on, young enough to scream.

Family Attractions

Breaker Bay Wave Pool — Nashville Shores’ main wave pool runs scheduled wave cycles and calm intervals throughout the day. Breaker Bay is where most families set up base camp with towels and chairs. The waves range from gentle to moderate — strong enough for body surfing, mild enough for younger swimmers.

Castaway Creek Lazy River — A quarter-mile lazy river loop that circles through shaded sections and open sun. Castaway Creek Lazy River is the one attraction at Nashville Shores that works for every single age group. Toddlers in parent laps, teenagers floating between slides, adults who just want to sit in a tube — Castaway Creek handles all of it.

Kids’ Zones

Kowabunga Beach — A dedicated splash zone for young kids with a water treehouse, dump buckets, low-height slides, and interactive spray features. Kowabunga Beach is the centerpiece of the kids’ area at Nashville Shores, and it’s where parents with children under 7 spend the majority of their visit.

Barefootin’ Bay — A shallow wading and play area designed for toddlers and small children. Water depth stays under 18 inches across the entire footprint. Barefootin’ Bay gives the youngest visitors their own contained space away from the wave pool and slide traffic.

Open-Water Experiences

Percy Priest Lake Aqua Park — A floating inflatable obstacle course anchored directly on Percy Priest Lake. The Aqua Park opened in 2018 and sits on the lake surface adjacent to the beach area. It includes trampolines, climbing walls, balance beams, slides into the lake, and connecting platforms. The Aqua Park requires separate admission and a lifejacket (provided). Minimum age is 6 years old.

Treetop Adventure Park — A ropes course and zipline experience built in the tree canopy above the lakefront. Treetop Adventure Park is a separate-ticket attraction from the waterpark, but it operates on the same property. The course has multiple difficulty levels, which makes it functional for older kids, teens, and adults.

Nashville Shores Tickets — Pricing, Passes, and Discounts

Nashville Shores waterpark general admission tickets in 2026 are priced at approximately:

Nashville Shores season pass holders get free general admission all season, plus discounts on food, cabana rentals, Aqua Park admission, and Treetop Adventure Park tickets. A season pass pays for itself in 2 visits.

Nashville Shores military discount: Active military and veterans receive discounted admission with valid ID. Check the Nashville Shores website directly for the current military rate, as the discount amount changes seasonally.

Nashville Shores group tickets are available for parties of 15+ at a reduced per-person rate. Corporate outings, church groups, and school groups use the group ticket pricing. Birthday party packages include reserved pavilion space, meal options, and waterpark admission bundled at a group rate.

Where to buy Nashville Shores tickets: Purchase online through the Nashville Shores website for the best pricing. Gate-day pricing runs $5–10 higher than pre-purchased online tickets. Third-party vendors like Tripster and Club Wyndham Nashville occasionally bundle Nashville Shores admission with hotel packages.

Nashville Shores Hours and Calendar 2026

Nashville Shores waterpark operating hours for 2026:

Nashville Shores posts its full seasonal calendar on the official website, and the schedule shifts slightly each year. Nashville Shores events including fireworks nights, Nashville Shores adult night (21+ evenings), and special holiday weekend programming follow a separate events calendar.

Arrive by 10:00 AM on peak summer Saturdays, if you want a shaded spot near Breaker Bay Wave Pool. I’ve arrived at 11:30 AM on a July Saturday and spent 20 minutes hunting for a decent setup spot. The early crowd has a real advantage.

Nashville Shores Camping, Cabins, and RV Sites

Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort offers 3 lodging types directly on Percy Priest Lake:

RV Sites

Nashville Shores RV sites sit along the lakefront with full hookups (water, electric, sewer), level concrete pads, and direct access to the beach and waterpark. The RV park operates on a longer calendar than the waterpark — typically April through October. RV sites at Nashville Shores include waterpark admission for registered guests during the waterpark season.

Cabin Rentals

Nashville Shores cabins range from basic 1-bedroom units to larger family cabins with multiple beds, a kitchen, and a porch. Cabins face Percy Priest Lake and sit within walking distance of the waterpark entrance. Cabin guests receive waterpark admission included with the nightly rate during the waterpark season.

Tent Camping

Tent sites at Nashville Shores offer a basic, affordable option with lake access and shared restroom/shower facilities. Tent camping puts families directly on Percy Priest Lake at a fraction of the cabin or RV cost.

All Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort guests — RV, cabin, and tent — get access to the beach area, volleyball courts, lake swimming, and Banana Boats rentals. Paddleboard and kayak rentals are available at the lakefront. Kayak launch etiquette on Percy Priest Lake follows standard Tennessee lake regulations — stay within marked swim zones and yield to motorized vessels.

Nashville Shores Birthday Parties and Group Events

Nashville Shores offers 3 birthday party packages for kids and families:

• Basic Package — reserved pavilion area, waterpark admission for guests, and a designated party coordinator
• Standard Package — pavilion, admission, pizza and drinks, and party supplies
• Premium Package — pavilion, admission, full meal, cake, and exclusive Aqua Park access

Nashville Shores birthday party packages accommodate groups from 10 to 100+ guests. Corporate outings, team-building events, and school end-of-year trips use the group events booking system. Contact Nashville Shores directly at the posted phone number on the official website to reserve group events — online booking fills summer weekends by early May.

Nashville Shores Boat Rentals and Lake Activities

Nashville Shores offers 4 types of watercraft rentals on Percy Priest Lake:

• Banana Boats — group towable rides pulled by a motorboat; the most popular lake activity for families with older kids
• Kayaks — single and tandem kayak rentals for open-water paddling along the cedar-lined coves of Percy Priest Lake
• Paddleboards — stand-up paddleboard (SUP) rentals for calm-water days; best in the early morning before afternoon wind picks up
• Pedal Boats — family-sized pedal boats for low-speed lake cruising near the beach area

Percy Priest Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed reservoir, and lake activities at Nashville Shores operate within the Corps’ recreation guidelines. Water levels on Percy Priest Lake fluctuate seasonally — spring and early summer typically offer the highest levels and best conditions for all lake activities. Be aware of submerged stump hazards in the shallower coves during lower water periods in late summer and early fall.

Nashville Shores Zipline and Treetop Adventure Park

Treetop Adventure Park at Nashville Shores is a multi-level ropes course and zipline experience built in the hardwood tree canopy above the lakefront. The course offers multiple routes at different difficulty levels — from a beginner course for kids (minimum age 4 with adult supervision) to an advanced canopy route for teens and adults.

Treetop Adventure Park operates on a separate ticket from waterpark general admission. Combination tickets (waterpark + Treetop) are available at a bundled rate. Plan 1.5 to 2 hours for the full Treetop course depending on the difficulty level selected.

Is Nashville Shores Worth It? My Honest Take

Yes, Nashville Shores is worth the trip for families visiting or living in Nashville. Here’s my honest breakdown after years of regular visits:

What Nashville Shores does well:

• Mixed-age family coverage. Barefootin’ Bay and Kowabunga Beach handle toddlers. Mega Mayhem and Music City Racer satisfy teenagers. Castaway Creek Lazy River and Breaker Bay Wave Pool work for everyone in between. Very few Nashville family attractions cover this range in a single admission.
• The Percy Priest Lake setting. The beach area and open lake behind the waterpark give Nashville Shores a natural quality that concrete waterparks miss. Sitting on the sand watching the sun cross over Percy Priest Lake after a day of slides is a genuinely good afternoon.
• Camping and cabins. Combining the waterpark with lakefront camping or a cabin stay makes Nashville Shores a legitimate weekend getaway, not just a day trip.

What Nashville Shores could improve:

• Food prices. In-park food runs high for the quality delivered — standard waterpark pricing, which means $12+ for a basic meal. Bring a cooler with snacks and drinks for the car, if you want to reduce costs. Outside food is not permitted inside the waterpark gates.
• Shade coverage. Shade at Nashville Shores is limited in the main pool areas. Cabana rentals solve this, but they add cost. Arrive early and claim a spot near the tree line at Breaker Bay, if you want free shade.
• Aqua Park and Treetop pricing. Both carry separate-ticket costs on top of general admission. A family of 4 hitting the waterpark, Aqua Park, and Treetop Adventure Park can spend $250+ before food. Budget accordingly.

How to Get to Nashville Shores

Nashville Shores is located at 4001 Bell Rd, Hermitage, TN 37076 — about 15 miles east of downtown Nashville.

Driving directions from downtown Nashville: Take Interstate 40 East to Exit 221B (Percy Priest Dam/Bell Road). Turn right onto Bell Rd and follow 1.5 miles to the Nashville Shores entrance on the right.

Drive time from key Nashville areas:

Nashville Shores sits close to the Grand Ole Opry, Gaylord Opryland Resort, and the Club Wyndham Nashville hotel complex. Visitors staying near the Opryland area can combine a Nashville Shores trip with an Opry show, a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame, or a stop at the Jack Daniel’s Distillery (about 75 minutes south in Lynchburg) for a packed Tennessee day trip.

Nashville Shores Jobs and Employment

Nashville Shores hires 300–400 seasonal employees each year for waterpark operations, lifeguarding, food service, guest services, retail, maintenance, and Treetop Adventure Park staffing. Nashville Shores jobs post on the official website beginning in March, with positions filling through May.

Lifeguard positions require certification (Nashville Shores offers on-site lifeguard training in some seasons). Minimum age for most Nashville Shores seasonal positions is 16 years old.

Nashville Shores Phone Number and Contact

Nashville Shores phone number: (615) 889-7050

Nashville Shores address: 4001 Bell Rd, Hermitage, TN 37076

Nashville Shores website: nashvilleshores.com

Contact Nashville Shores directly for group ticket quotes, birthday party reservations, cabin and RV booking, and season pass questions. The phone line operates during business hours, and response time slows during peak summer — book early for July and August events.

Nashville Shores vs. Other Nashville Family Attractions

Nashville Shores fills a specific gap in the Nashville family attractions lineup — full-day, outdoor, water-based recreation on a natural lake. Here’s how Nashville Shores compares to other popular family-friendly options in Music City:

Nashville Shores is the strongest option for a full summer day, if your group includes young kids, teenagers, and adults who all need to stay entertained in the same place.

7 Tips Before Your First Nashville Shores Visit

7 practical Nashville Shores tips from a Nashville local:

• Buy tickets online — gate-day pricing adds $5–10 per person; pre-purchase and save immediately
• Arrive at 10:00 AM on Saturdays — shade and prime seating near Breaker Bay Wave Pool disappear by 11:00 AM on peak days
• Rent a cabana early, if your group includes 4+ people — cabana reservations open online before the season starts and sell out for peak weekends
• Bring water shoes — the walkways between attractions heat up significantly by noon on concrete surfaces
• Pack sunscreen generously — shade coverage is limited outside the cabana and tree-line areas; reapply every 90 minutes
• Budget separately for Aqua Park and Treetop — both require additional tickets beyond general waterpark admission; decide before you arrive which add-ons your group actually wants
• Check for Nashville Shores fireworks and adult night dates — special events run on select evenings through the summer calendar and offer a different experience from standard daytime visits

A Final Word From Someone Who Keeps Coming Back

Nashville Shores does what it’s supposed to do: it gives Nashville families and visitors a full outdoor day on a real Tennessee lake with enough waterpark rides to keep every age group moving. It’s not a mega-resort. The food is overpriced. The shade situation needs work. But the combination of Percy Priest Lake, Castaway Creek Lazy River, Mega Mayhem, the Aqua Park, and camping directly on the water makes Nashville Shores a summer staple in this city for a reason.

I go at least 3 times every summer. I’ll keep going. And if you’re visiting Nashville with kids or planning a family weekend in Music City, Nashville Shores earns a full day on your itinerary.